Veteran striker Dion Dublin's hot scoring streak continued as Aston Villa
gained revenge for their FA Cup mauling by Blackburn with a comfortable
Barclaycard Premiership victory at Villa Park.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson came to assess the form of the likes of
Gareth Barry and Darius Vassell before naming his squad next weekend for the
friendly international against Australia on February 12.
But it was Dublin, whose Villa career had looked over when he was loaned out
to Millwall last season, who was the main reason for his side continuing their
league revival with 13 points from the last 18.
The 33-year-old has now been on target eight times in the last 10 games to
take his tally for the campaign to 14.
But Barry, although not at his very best, also did his chances no harm when he
put the icing on a convincing Villa performance with the third goal nine minutes
from time - and his second in two games.
Graham Taylor's side had been trounced 4-1 in The FA Cup meeting on the same
ground three weeks ago, but they dominated this encounter and leap-frogged over
Rovers in the table.
Dublin was a constant threat while Johannes Gudjonsson and Thomas Hitzlsperger
ensured Villa had control of the midfield.
And at the back there were solid performances from Olof Mellberg and Ronny
Johnsen as Blackburn's strike force of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke barely posed a
threat.
Indeed, Rovers were second best in all departments with only Tugay emerging
with much credit.
Villa got off to the perfect start with Dublin putting them ahead with a
trademark headed goal after two minutes.
David Thompson conceded a free-kick on the left flank after fouling Gareth
Barry and the resulting cross from Gudjonsson was met by Dublin who climbed
above Martin Taylor to send his header into the corner of the net.
Thompson became the first player to be yellow carded after 11 minutes for
another clumsy tackle - this time on Gudjonsson.
Vratislav Gresko, signed by Rovers boss Graeme Souness from Parma last week,
threatened for the first time when he tried his luck from 35 yards out, but his
dipping effort was just too high to trouble Enckelman.
Blackburn started to come more into the game, but Villa were looking quite
solid with Gudjonsson protecting the back four and breaking up attacks and
passing effectively.
Barry was booked after 34 minutes by referee Mike Dean after he had gone
tumbling to the floor following a clash with Thompson.
Then Johansson followed him into the notebook after chopping down Darius
Vassell - and from the free-kick Villa nearly doubled their lead.
Olof Mellberg floated the ball into the box and his centre-back partner Ronny
Johnsen found himself unmarked eight yards out, but Brad Friedel was able to
parry his right-footed volley.
The American also pushed away a drive from Stefan Moore, but Villa were not to
be denied and five minutes before half-time Dublin doubled their lead with
another clinical finish.
Johnsen and Barry were involved in the build-up before the latter played the
ball into the path of Dublin, who made no mistake with a left-footed effort into
the corner of the net from 12 yards out.
James McEveley was the next player to be cautioned by Dean after wrestling
Mark Delaney to the ground a minute before the break.
Souness made a half-time switch of formation, bringing on Egil Ostenstad - in
place of John Curtis - alongside Andy Cole with Dwight Yorke dropping into the
'hole' behind the front two.
But it was Villa who continued to look the more threatening and they twice
came close to adding to their lead.
Moore created an opening for himself and then volleyed inches wide of the
unsighted Friedel's far post.
Then Dublin laid the ball into the path of Thomas Hitzlsperger, who curled a
25-yard shot just past the post with Friedel scrambling across his line.
Johnsen volleyed just over after meeting a corner from Hitzlsperger, who then
cut inside and saw Friedel claw onto his low drive at the second attempt.
But with nine minutes left Barry got on the score-sheet, collecting a cross
from substitute Ulises de la Cruz before cutting back inside and making no
mistake from 10 yards.
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